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File a Complaint

The Commission on Police Practices (CPP) encourages any person(s) who believe that they have experienced or observed police misconduct to file a complaint with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and/or with the CPP. The CPP recognizes that completing and submitting the Complaint Form may be intimidating and stressful. The CPP wishes to assure complainants and witnesses that they will be able to do so without fear of retaliation or adverse consequences. In order to investigate the incident completely, it is helpful to provide your name and information. However, the CPP also accepts anonymous complaints. If you want your complaint to be handled anonymously, please type in anonymous instead of your first and last name in the required fields.

The purpose of the CPP is to provide an independent investigation of officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, and an unbiased evaluation of all complaints against the San Diego Police Department and itspersonnel, in a process that will be transparent and accountable to the community. The CPP will also evaluate and review SDPD policies, practices, training and protocols and represent the community in makingrecommendations for changes. The mission of the CPP is to hold law enforcement accountable to the community and to increase community trust in law enforcement, resulting in increasedsafety for both the community and law enforcement.

Please note: The complaint form must be submitted by the complainant himself/herself.

Instructions for Completing the Complaint Form

Please describe the incident that led to this complaint, telling what happened from beginning to end. Be as clear and specific as you can be. What aspect(s) of the incident was improper (your specific complaint). How could it be resolved to your satisfaction.

Fields with an asterisk (*) are required.

Complainant
Optional Information

The following information is being collected for CPP statistical purposes and is entirely optional. The completion or not of this information will not in any way affect the outcome of the investigation.

Incident
SDPD Personnel Involved
Personnel #1
Gender
Personnel #2
Gender
Personnel #3
Gender
Personnel #4
Gender
Witness(es)
Witness #1
Witness #2
Witness #3
Photo/Video

One file only.
5 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png.
Do you have more photos or a video of the incident?

  You will be contacted to coordinate the acquisition of the photos/videos.

Only one (1) photo can be uploaded. Additional photos or video files will have to be provided separately.

“I realize that I may be asked to meet with officers of the City of San Diego Police Department Internal Affairs Division and/or members of the Commission on Police Practices to discuss this complaint. If I fail to do so, I acknowledge that it may make it difficult to properly investigate my complaint. I hereby affirm that the foregoing is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”

Legal Requirement

California Penal Code Section 148.6 (a) (2) states in part:

A law enforcement agency accepting an allegation of misconduct against a peace officers shall require the complainant to read and sign the following advisory:

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER FOR ANY IMPROPER POLICE CONDUCT. CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THIS AGENCY TO HAVE A PROCEDURE TO INVESTIGATE CIVILIANS' COMPLAINTS. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROCEDURE. THIS AGENCY MAY FIND AFTER INVESTIGATION THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO WARRANT ACTION ON YOUR COMPLAINT; EVEN IF THAT IS THE CASE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE COMPLAINT AND HAVE IT INVESTIGATED IF YOU BELIEVE AN OFFICER BEHAVED IMPROPERLY. CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS AND ANY REPORTS OR FINDINGS RELATING TO COMPLAINTS MUST BE RETAINED BY THIS AGENCY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO MAKE A COMPLAINT THAT YOU KNOW TO BE FALSE. IF YOU MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST AN OFFICER KNOWING THAT IT IS FALSE, YOU CAN BE PROSECUTED ON A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE.